ArduPilot Purple + Skywalker X8 + FPV = Summer Loving
So I have some vacations coming up and already have some quads and a hex I figured I needed a fixed wing to round out my aerial camera fleet. (for now) heh. So I took the plunge and picked myself up an X8 to fill up with electronics.
I'm running an ArduPilot Purple, with a Castle 75 esc waiting for Hobbyking to drop of my new Scorpion motor until then I have a 700W max 50Amp local hobby store motor to power the bird. I'm running 1.2 video feeding through MinimOSD with a Sony 720 line mini cam. I have a roll and tilt GoPro mount in the works that I'll post up some pics when I can get some play time on the router this weekend. Communication is done through a Futaba 10C 72Mhz and some 900Mhz XBees.
I've only made a few mods for now like adding a second motor mount plate that bolt through the foam to the outer plate.
I made some electronics trays and filled in the lower camera cut out with some foam and Gorilla glue.
I ended up bringing the control linkage up through the wing, leaving it on the bottom seemed like a bad idea for a belly lander. I have never flown a or built a fixed wing, but I said the same about the multirotors and DIYDrone's gear and community made it simple, awesome and enjoyable. Only crashes were ah-hem user error. So I'm hoping for the same luck with this bird. I do have tons of hours now on RealFlight sim just to make sure I feel comfortable with the controls. That being said any input from from you guys will be greatly appreciated. I'll update this blog as things progress and as I get the camera mount going. But for now heres some more eye candy. Be happy and safe all!
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Comment by Toby Mills on June 22, 2012 at 11:21pm -
reposting the video
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Comment by james sowell on June 23, 2012 at 1:12am -
rick m at 4:09 shadow of plane looks close
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Comment by Alexander LeBrun on June 23, 2012 at 8:17am -
@Rick m Much appreciated sir! And many thanks for jumping in here from my comments on you tube, I love living in the future. Hopefully I can get back in time today to try 'em out otherwise it will have to wait till Monday or Tuesday. Toby super fantastic man. Do you have telemetry if so what are you using XBess or 3DR? Once again thank you gentlemen.
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Comment by John Moore on June 23, 2012 at 10:34am
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@Rick
Just out of curiosity, did you have telemetry or FPV for that flight?
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Comment by Toby Mills on June 23, 2012 at 1:39pm
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I'm using xbee 900 with a 19dB patch antenna that gives me 10km range. I only use xbee as I had them already
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Comment by Rick M on June 23, 2012 at 2:08pm -
@John I had telemetry, and a GoPro camera, but no FPV.
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Comment by Earl on June 23, 2012 at 4:45pm -
our balloon flight with the x8 attached should be in 2 to 3 weeks. We plan on a first flight from 10 -15 K feet to see how it feels. We have a 5 watt ATV tx on board on 439.25 mhz. I have an extra class ham license. N8TV. Will also have 10 watt APRS unit like we have flown before, seems so reliable ! 3 tries with the balloon now and 3 times close to 100,000 feet ! Recovered all 3 also. The X8 as a glider should be awsome ! After the 10k shakedown we will try 50k and then the big one at 100 k feet. Like to use your pids also. The X8 is a monster plane ! we painted ours red on bottom and black on top. We are not using rc equipment ! Mavlink with 3DR radios on 433 mhz is what we will use with a 1 watt amplifier. Hope the TV and Mavlink don't interfere with each other.
I will keep you informed on our progress. We launch a balloon every 2 weeks in the summer. I work for Cosmiac.org in Albuquerque, NM. What a GREAT job ! Being Paid to fly this stuff !
Earl
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Comment by Ahmed Rehan on June 24, 2012 at 1:34pm -
What is the takeoff weight and what size of prop u r using for 1hr endurance? what about no wind hand launch test?
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Comment by Rick M on June 24, 2012 at 3:29pm
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@James, yeah the plane looks close, but it's really not. Much higher, and farther south (early morning sun angle exaggerates the proximity).
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Comment by Rick M on June 24, 2012 at 3:32pm
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@Toby, you're really getting 10 km range? We get about 3 km before losing it (with the rubber duckies). I've tried a 900 MHz Yagi on the ground, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Which patch antenna did you use? Got a link to a vendor? Thanks.
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